Backyard Gardening on the rise

With products like this one, it’s no wonder Backyard Gardening is seeing an upward trend. I’ve (well … my husband’s) been gardening for years and we love the convenience, savings, and better quality of food we get this way. Now that we’ve moved to another state and rent instead of own, we had to forego the big garden this year. However, I think I am in LOVE with this product from Backyard Botanical and it’s a definite must-have!! I’m already begging hubby to get it for me. I think *I* might even garden like this.

This is the STUFF, if I do say so myself. I really think this would make a great addition to any backyard ~ even if you have a larger garden plot. This would be great for lettuces, herbs, and other smaller items. I could also see this as an excellent solution for older folks who might not enjoy all the bending that a traditional garden requires.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that there is an opportunity to WIN ONE this weekend.

Check here for all the details: http://tinyurl.com/c3634y

Trustee's Garden in Savannah

First off, let me start by saying that it's a pleasure to be back on track and looking into "Healthy Discoveries" in a new city and state. For those who may not be aware, we've moved from Nashville, TN to Savannah, GA, and I'm starting this lifestyle journey anew.

Although I've lived in the remote areas of the Deep South before, Savannah is different. To me, it is at the same time remote and yet considered a fairly decent size city. Needless to say, it is much smaller than Nashville and therefore does not have some of the places I was accustomed to (Whole Foods, etc) but I am learning that there are nice options here.

Of course, the growing season is a bit longer here and we have access to local farmers and their produce quite readily in and around the Savannah area. One of the great finds that I have yet to personally visit but wanted to highlight today is the Market at the Trustee's Garden in the historic downtown area of Savannah.

I'm sure many of you reading this blog have visited Savannah and marvelled at the history, architecture, and beauty of this old city. For those of you planning to return or planning your first visit, you will surely want to put the Trustee's Garden on your list of must see places.

History of the Trustee's Garden:
Here's an excerpt from the official website: "From 1733 to 1748 Trustees’ Garden was set aside from Savannah as an experimental farm where peaches, rice, cotton, grapes, flax, hemp, indigo, olives, and the mulberry trees essential to silk culture, were grown. Silk was an early promise, and the town’s largest structure was the filature where the cocoons were unwound into silk thread. Queen Caroline was clothed in Georgia silk. However, large-scale silk production did not happen, so interest waned and the garden closed."

Currently, the area of the former experimental garden is now being used once a week to house The Market at Trustee's garden, a market featuring local organic farmers, eco artists, and more. According to the Market's website, this is "an attempt to reinvigorate the first experimental garden of the United States of America."

Isn't that cool? I've always loved history but I love the fact that Savannah was a "first city" for so many things -- the garden, the first planned city in the US, and so much more.


*You can read more about the Trustee's Garden here: http://www.trusteesgarden.com/home
and more about the market here: http://www.trusteesmarket.com/


More to Come
Stay with this blog in the coming weeks as we highlight local farms and more. And if you have a suggestion for a feature, please leave a comment on this post.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Heirloom Tomatoes and Strawberries

That's what I'm after this weekend at the Farmer's Market in Nashville!

I just got my e-newsletter from the market yesterday and I'm excited. Here's what they had to say:

Life is sweet at the Market!

The long awaited Tennessee strawberry season is here. Local strawberries are to be devoured during the scant weeks they are in season and these sweet little orbs are a great way to start off a fantastic spring at the market.

New to the Market this year is Rainbow Hill Farm from McMinnville, with a truck-load of delicious quarts of berries. They've visited the market several times now on Tuesdays and will be coming back again with a truckload of fresh picked strawberries this Friday as well. Walter has been selling out quick as word spreads about new farmers and
fresh berries at the Market, so come early! And if you miss Walter, wander over to our retail area where you can find a great selection of fresh, sweet berries from Cookeville, Portland and Ridgetop, Tennessee.*

Additionally, they have some Heirloom Tomatoes in the sheds too --

Heirloom Tomatoes Already?

Yes! Our intrepid retailer Randy Barnes has discovered a farmer growing with hoop houses and bringing us heirloom tomatoes nearly a month earlier than usual. You'll find all your favorites, like Cherokee Purple, red Brandywine, Gold Medal and, new this year, Kellogg's Breakfast. Come down and get a taste of summer early.*

I don't know what half of those are, but I'm going to find out!! Yum!

So, if you are in the Nashville area, you might want to grab your 'Green' bags and schedule a trip out this weekend to the Market. Directions and more details can be found here: www.nashvillefarmersmarket.org

*Reprinted from the Nashville Farmer's Market E-news.


Tour De Nash
And, if you happen to be downtown on Saturday the 17th, you might want to check out the Tour De Nash. This annual event provides everything from a 2 mile Family Walk to a 50+ mile bike ride around the city.

Additionally, there is a FREE health and wellness fair during the event. Most participants in the free walks get water bottles for their participation too.

Enjoy your weekend!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Healthy Discoveries???

I'm sure you've noticed that there have been no 'discoveries' lately -- healthy or otherwise! :o)

Life and Winter sucked me in and I put the blogging aside for a while. Hopefully that will change soon with the onset of summer and loads of all things healthy.

I plan to make my first warm-weather visit to the Farmer's Market soon and will be sure to post photos and details.

One item of Note:
If you are in Nashville or the surrounding area, you will be sure to want the following information:

Raw-N-Ready
A new program devised by Tim Parkison (who teaches classes at Wild Oats, btw) that will provide raw meals on a weekly basis by order only. Check out the details below:

Raw-n-Ready
Thank you all for your tremendous interest, support, and response to
the possibility of prepared raw food by the week. As a result, I am eager to
announce that...
The debut menu for "Raw-N-Ready" is complete!

I am at last poised and ready to create fabulous raw food for you!

Here's how it works:

Each week I'll e-mail a fresh menu for you to order and pick up.The order will consist of:

2 soups (or some weeks a dip or spread w/live flaxseed crackers and a soup)
4 side items
4 entrees
2 delicious raw
deserts
(There are sure to be a few added surprises along the way.)

I will list extras such as live seasoned sunnies, spiced pumpkin seeds, flax crackers, live salad dressings, raw live granola, etc. as they are available. (These items will be offered at an additional cost).

I'll stay as organic with my ingredients as Mother Nature and the market will allow. It is my express intention to support our local growers. So, what is ripened and ready will assist me in creating each week's menu. Keeping your raw food as fresh, alive, and vital as possible!

The minimum order (described above) is $100.00.
Doubling the order (for two) will be $185.00.

You may order and pre-pay a week in advance, then pick up your food the following week.

In the "start up" phase of this adventure I am requesting cash for payment. I will adjust to more modern means as we grow together.

The pick up point will be at 1902 Linden Ave.(near Hillsboro Village in Nashville). Your order will be available between 4-6pm.

It Gets Better!

You are invited to a "tasting"! Please join me to sample some of the items you will be experiencing each week. This gives you an opportunity to preview the menu, ask questions about the program and place your intial order.

Where? 1902 Linden Av. Nashville, TN 37212

When? Thursday, May 15th, 2008 between 6-8pm.

Cost? $10.00

This will be a casual "drop by" kind of event. So, please feel free to come and go at your convenience.

Please RSVP so I can be sure to prepare plenty for you to enjoy! You may reply to this e-mail or give me a call.
615-300-5012

Thank you for enthusiasm! It is you that have inspired me to manifest Raw-N-Ready into reality.

I look forward to meeting you at the tasting!

Sincerely,
Tim Parkison
(a.k.a. "Chef Timio")

He's given me permission to re-post this. So be watching for updates on this
program as well as information on his classes at Wild Oats.

Nashville Raw Event

For those of you who don't get the Nashville Farmer's Market newsletter, here's a tidbit of information you might want.

Sandor Katz on Wild Fermentation
January 6, 3 p.m.
at the studio of photographer Thomas Petillo, 1015 West Kirkland
Avenue, Suite 203, Nashville
(Click for map)

Meet raw food expert Sandor Katz on the ultimate slow food technique: wild fermentation. Sandor is a national speaker and the author of two books, one has the wonderful title of "The Future Will Not Be Microwaved: Inside America's Underground Food Movements."
Slow Food is requesting a $25 per person donation. For more details you can visit Slow Food Nashville.

I don't know anything about Sandor or the technique, but figured I would pass along the information in case anyone else was interested.

That's all for now -- sorry it's so short.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've located a few more local resources that might be of interest to some of you out there.

Local Resources:
Shannon Rose Live! -- local lady with raw classes, recipes, and information.
Beautiful on Raw -- featuring reviews, resources, books, and more from Cordova, TN

Nashville Raw Foods Support Group -- found on meetup.com
As stated on their website:
"Gain support and encouragement from other raw fooders in the area and share meals, recipes, books, ideas and friendship together on a monthly basis. This group is for everyone interested or just learning about raw foods as well as for those that are stuggling or have already "gone raw." You don't need to be 100% raw, all eating paths and lifestyles are respected."

You can also find a list of other local farms and such on these posts:
Local & Noteworthy, part 1
Local & Noteworthy, part 2

Recipe link from Trisha G.:
Trish recently sent over a recipe that her crew liked a lot and I tried it with mine. I'm including the content of her email in this post so you can see the substitutions she made. I think I will try these substitutions next time with my family too.

Hi ladies! Just passing along a recipe that I served tonight. The kids and I loved it, Brian ate it all and said it was good, but said it's not his favorite. I'm ok with that. ;-)

Here's the link. I grew up with my Polish step-dad's family serving cabbage rolls at family meals. LOVE those! This is very similar, but in a much easier casserole form.
I made a couple of substitutions. I used a bit more cabbage than the recipe called for, substituted Kashi pilaf for the rice and used two cans of diced tomatoes and one can of tomato sauce and added a bit more water. It says to cook until the liquid is absorbed, but with all the liquid from the tomatoes and extra water, that would have been hours. I just watched it for the cabbage to be good and tender. It was yummy!! My boys asked for more and more until we finally just had to make them stop eating. That's when I knew they liked it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kitchen Goodies and Farmer's Market Fun

Just a few websites today that feature items you may wish to purchase for your kitchen or journey into this healthier way of living.

First ... an ultra-cool bottle that Melodie B. purchased. It is leach free and keeps water extremely cold for a long period of time.

SIGG water bottles (and more)
or check out http://www.mysigg.com/

They have really cute designs - including some for the kiddos - and offer customizable solutions. Not too pricey if you consider it doesn't leach harmful chemicals and toxins into your precious water and you can reuse it indefinitely.

Kitchen Stuff
Here are a few sites for spices, hard to find items, and kitchen essentials.

• Nirmala's Kitchen: http://www.nirmalaskitchen.com/
  Spices ~ Salts ~ Gifts ~ Organic Items
• Raw Life Health Store: http://www.rawlife.com/store/home.php
  Books ~ Appliances ~ Supplements ~ More

Farmer's Market Fun
Sandye and I journeyed to the Farmer's Market downtown today and several of the local farms still had nice greens (sadly, no kale) and sweet potatoes. We also checked out the tiny international market and found some interesting items.

Picking out sweet taters for her crew

Can't speak for the quality but the prices were incredible. That Tahini that is bigger than her face was only $13 and the small jar was $3.50 or something like that. I paid $6 for the same size jar at another store.

The prices on the spices were out of this world too. And they have young coconuts for 99 cents. Two pounds of medjool dates were $5.99. Again, can't speak to the quality of the stuff since I'm no expert but it might be worth a look for yourself at any rate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Odds and Ends as we wrap up the week

Whole Food Markets in Green Hills is officially open now. Be sure to check it out online and register for their e-news. Also, I just got an email from Brinda noting the cooking class schedule will be posted soon. Check it out here.

Many of the folks I've talked to are intrigued by the Raw Food end of this new healthy way of living. So we are considering doing a 30-day Raw 'adventure' after the first of the year. We'll also have a tasting night to go along with it.

If you are interested in participating in either the tasting night or the 30 day Raw, just email me or reply to this post (either way is cool). The tasting night is simple: prepare enough of a raw food recipe to share and bring it, along with copies of the recipe to give out. This way we get to try new recipes and have recipes to take home from the tasting night.

I figure we might as well have some fun as we go, eh?

Green Smoothies:
I know a lot of us are trying them. Share some recipes of your favorite green smoothie concoctions and we'll put it on the blog for all to try. I have found a few sites that feature them but would rather hear what you all enjoy. Email or reply to this post with your fav!

Ciao~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Local and Noteworthy - part deux

So, after a little more research today I found TONS of other local farms where you can get fresh produce, participate in CSAs, and even take the family to "pick-your-own" during certain seasons.

Quite frankly it's a shame that we are at the end of summer in locating these places. But, it just means more to look forward to next year! I'm already making my list of farms around Tennessee and getting jazzed about planning Saturdays to go and explore with the family.

A lot of these farms are CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) -- which simply means that you pay a certain fee for the farmer to "work for you" and you have a "share" in the harvest that season. Usually these "shares" are delivered (or picked up) every other week or so, depended upon the farm. You can read more about CSAs here

Click the links provided to check out the farms. Some don't have links but I'll try and give you as much details as I have (most of this information comes from "Local Table") . They are listed in no particular order but I have '*' the ones that looked interesting to me.

For TONS more listings, visit these sites:
http://localtable.net/farm_guide (listed by counties)
http://www.localharvest.org/ (search by State, county or zip code)

Also check out: Pick TN Products http://www.picktnproducts.org/index.html

Oh yeah - if you check out any of these places or know of others that should be highlighted, please, PLEASE let us know so that we can share the details with those following this blog. Thanks!!!!

Anyway ... on to the list.

• Barefoot Farmer: http://www.barefootfarmer.com/
• Bugtussle Farm: http://bugtusslefarm.com/
• * Delvin Farms: http://www.delvinfarms.com/
• Eaton's Creek Organics: http://www.ecorganics.net/
• Fresh Harvest Cooperative: http://freshharvestcoop.com/
• Doe Run Farm: http://www.doerunfarmtn.com/
• * Morning Glory Orchard: http://www.morninggloryorchard.com/
• Pratt's Peaches: http://www.prattspeaches.com/
• * Mamushi Nature Farms: http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M5514
• Bountiful Blessings Farm: http://bountifulblessingsfarm.com/
• Avalon Acres Farm: http://www.avalon-acres.com/
• Hill and Hollow Farm: http://www.hillandhollowfarm.com/
• * Sylvanus Farm: http://www.sylvanusfarm.com/
• * West Wind Farms: http://www.grassorganic.com/

Here's info on places without websites:

Bramble Hill Farm
Organic, Produce, Eggs, Farmers Market
Nancy VanWinkle
1722 Campbell Road, Goodlettsville
615-876-3947
nanwinkle76@yahoo.com
Season: Spring, Summer and Fall
We sell our produce and eggs at the Whites Creek Farmer's Market.
We are a small-scale sustainable family farm using organic practices in the north hills of Davidson County. We grow a variety of vegetable crops in the spring through the fall, as well as offering eggs from our free range hens.

Hungry Gnome Farm
Produce, Eggs, Farmers Market
Alicia Batson and Bert Hartman
4712 Lickton Pike, Whites Creek
615-299-1661
crackerlake@comcast.net
Season: Spring through Fall
We sell at the Whites Creek and Franklin Farmers Market.
Our farm is located on 75 acres in North Davidson County and we grow a large variety of produce. We also sell eggs from our free range hens. Beginning in 2008, we will also offer goat meat.

Howell Farms
Produce, Peaches, Berries, Farmers Markets
Johnny Howell
Bellevue
615-242-1623
Season: Spring, Summer and Fall, April thru October Hours: 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM
We have been selling produce from our farm since we had a stand on the old Nashville Courthouse Square in 1938. We now have 3 seasonal produce tents in the Nashville area; on Glen Echo Road, Sharondale Drive in the Trinity Presbyterian Church parking lot, at the intersection of Old Hickory Boulevard and Franklin Pike in Brentwood and their year-round booth at the Nashville Farmers' Market. We sell locally grown peaches, berries, root vegetables, squash, corn, greens, and heirloom tomatoes.

Richards' Family Farm
Produce, Farmers' Market
Troy Richards
1508 East Stewarts Lane, Nashville
615-255-6074
Season: Spring, Summer, Fall Hours: Daily at the Nashville Farmers' Market, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Specialize in turnip greens and okra. We grow green onions, tomatoes, corn, leaf lettuce, cucumbers, squash, collard greens and mustard greens, beets, green beans.

* Circle S Farm
PYO Strawberries, Produce, Farm Stand
Donnie Steed
1627 E. Old Laguardo Rd., Lebanon,
615-405-6860
donnie.steed@steedbrothers.com
Open season early-Mid May: Mon-Fri., 3 PM to dark Saturday, 12-5 PM Closed Sundays
Circle S Farm has operated as a family farm in the LaGuardo community of Wilson County since 1838 and is recognized as one of Tennessee~s Century Farms. In the springtime we offer a pick your own strawberry patch. It~s fun and the taste of freshly picked strawberries cannot be beat. If you don~t have time to pick your own, just call ahead and we~ll have your order waiting for you at the farm. In the summer we also offer homegrown tomatos, corn and canteloupes. These are offered for sale by the honor system ~ just leave your money in the box at the stand.

Growing Crazy Organics
Organic, Produce, Herbs, Edible Flowers, Farm Stand
Jennifer Sutton
2320 Bluebird Rd., Lebanon, TN
615-504-5678
http://www.growingcrazyorganics.com/
Call for hours.
We are a small organic farm and greenhouse operation located outside of Lebanon offering a large variety of vegetable plants including tomatos, squash, zuccini, cucumber, eggplant, hot and sweet peppers, melons and gourd plants. We also have herbs and edible flowers. We will also grow seeds per request. We are a ~garden to go~ service and will produce container plants to your personal wishes.

Jones Mill Farm
Organic, CSA, Produce, Farm, Farmers Market
JR and Judy Stroud
391 Jones Mill Road, LaVergne
615-459-4727
Season: Year round via email subscription service taking weekly orders, Franklin Farmer's Market and Murfreesboro Farmer's Market.
We grown organic heirloom varieties and other unusual produce, including shiitakes, asparagus, horseradish, candy onions, garlic, tomatoes, and fingerling potatoes. We also grind our own flour from organic grains and sell breads, jams and jellies from our certified kitchen.

Honorable Mention: (because they are closed -- definitely worth a look in 2008)

Breeden~s Orchard & Country Store
PYO Peaches, Apples, Farm Stand
Tommy or Mary Nell Breeden
631 Beckwith Rd., Mt. Juliet
615-449-2880
breedensorchard@comcast.net
Season: closed for 2007. There are a few farm store items remaining from last year~s crop, such as preserves and chow chows. Call if you~re interested.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Local and Noteworthy

Today's post is going to focus on local places you might want to add to your "frequent shopping" list.

Nashville Farmer's Market:
Visit the website and then make plans to go shopping for local, homegrown flavors. While at the website you can sign up for their weekly newsletter and take a look at the merchants. Here's a sample of what's available currently at the Farmer's Market:

~Late Season Tomatoes
~Freshly hulled purple hull peas
~Kubota squash
~Blueberry, raspberry, apple, peach and plum shrubs & trees grown in Tennessee
~Gigantic pumpkins and gourds
~Fresh local lamb chops


Franklin Farmer's Market:
Visit the website. Take note that they have limited days of operation at this time and will close for the season in November.


Wild Oats Marketplace:
Website link here! There are a couple of these in town and they feature whole foods and organic fruits/veggies. One of the cooler things I noticed is the monthly calendar of events (each store is different, so check both the Franklin and Green Hills locations). I've linked to the Franklin one. Among other things, they offer a FREE raw food cooking class and a Candida Support Group.

You can also view the online sale flyer to help make shopping lists before you go.

*Don't forget ... most of these websites (and those aforementioned) offer monthly or weekly newsletters. So be sure to find the subscription box and add your email addy!!!

Oh Yeah ... COMING SOON
Whole Foods Market: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/
will be merging with Wild Oats and the store in Green Hills will be opening in November. So you might want to check them out when they open. You might also sign up for the WFM newsletter since that will be the dominant brand after they merge.


Some late entries in the game here ....

I was searching some boards and found some other local items of interest. First up is

Peaceful Pastures: http://www.peacefulpastures.com/
Local farm that raises all natural, grassfed meat, including: beef, turkey, chicken, pork, lamb, goose, duck, and goat.

The Turnip Truck: http://www.theturniptruck.com/
Located on Woodland Street, this market features organic and whole food items: produce, supplements and more! BTW, miso, coconut oil, and vegenaise are on sale right now ;o)

Avalon Acres: http://avalon-acres.com/
Local farm in Hohenwald raising all natural meat, eggs, and herbs, veggies and more.

Rocky Glade Farms: http://www.rockygladefarm.com
Features meat and veggies but offers a winter CSA providing fresh veggies throughout the winter in 1/2 bushels every two weeks.

Tennessee - Eat Wild: http://www.eatwild.com/products/tennessee.html
Webpage offering listing of other local farms and companies from which to purchase whole and organic foods.

PLEASE let me know if you find any others and we will add them to the list.

Ciao!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~